PC and Music News

Novation has released a new MIDI controller, the ReMOTE SL COMPACT. Combined with Automap Universal, it provides an affordable route to automatic, instant and intelligent control of all major sequencers and all automatable plug-ins.

Features :

- 2 models : 25 or 49 semi-weighted keys with aftertouch
- 7 Velocity Curves individually assignable for each Template
- Pitch and Mod wheel
- 144-character screen displaying up to eight assigned parameters at once
- Data Ports: 1 x USB MIDI (Win XP/Mac OSX class-compliant)
- MIDI: 1 x MIDI Out, 1 x MIDI In
- Sustain Pedal: 1 x 1/4" Jack Input
- Expression pedal: 1 x 1/4" Jack Input
- 8 infinite rotary encoders (x4 with Group Select switches A-D)
- 8 buttons (x4 with Group Select switches B1-4)
- 8 trigger pads
- Transport Controls: ...

Electrix has released Virtual Repeater Pro, a plug-in for live loop recording, sampling and overdubbing using your PC or Mac based upon its hardware big brother Repeater. Sync your loops to audio or MIDI and control them with your hands or feet. Record a loop and then speed it up or slow it down - without affecting the pitch. Other Effects and features include Time Stretching, Undo, Reverse, Slip, Overdub and Resample which allows you to bounce multiple tracks down to one.

Features :

- Easy to use intuitive GUI
- Classic Repeater and Modern control interface
- Pitch shift; +12/-24 semitones
- Time stretch; 1bpm to 150% of recorded rate
- Individual track transport; play, stop, reverse
- Up to 12 tracks per loop
- Seamless loop cue and engage
- Advanced real-time beat detection ...

Previously available for Pro Tools|HD only, Softube Studios has just announced that Vintage Amp Room is now available as VST/AU plug-ins for native platforms and PowerCore. Straightforward and simple, Vintage Amp Room emulates three carefully selected guitar amps in a complete studio set-up with speaker cabinets and fully flexible microphone positioning.

Main features :

- Three great-sounding vintage amp models that handle like real amps.
- Raw & authentic sound.
- Flexible & continuous click-and-drag mic positioning.
- Fully automatable parameters.
- 3-D rendered photo-realistic user interface.
- Compatible with all effects that work with real amps.

Vintage Amp Room is available in both Native and PowerCore VST and AU formats for Windows and Mac OS X (plus the existing TDM version) priced at :

- Native VST/AU: €349 / $429
- PowerCore VST/AU: €399 / $489

Note that a fully functional 10-day demo version is also available (iLok required).

Christian Knufinke Software has just released SIR2, a convolution reverb plug-in which is the commercial successor to the freeware SIR1. Offering zero-latency processing with low CPU-consumption and non-destructive audio processing of impulse responses, SIR2 includes high definition impulse responses (HDIR) of "real" places produced by Pinguin, Hamburg. You can also import impulse responses from free or commercial sources.

Features :

- Zero latency processing.
- Includes Pinguin's High Definition Impulse Responses.
- "True Stereo" processing (a stereo convolution takes place for every source channel (left + right)).
- High-quality internal sample rate converting.
- Separate dry/wet control (-60db .. +20dB).
- Auto-gain. ...

FabFilter has just released Pro-C, a new compressor plug-in offering three compressor styles (Clean, Classic and Opto), flexible routing and side-chain options, and various program dependent compression styles with an innovative user interface and animated level display making compression easy to grasp for everyone.

Features :

- Three different compressor styles
- Program dependent attack and release curves
- Super-fast attack times
- Soft- and hard knee option
- Zero latency, click-free 64-bit internal processing
- Auto Gain option
- Auto Release option
- Large input, output, and gain change meters with different scale settings
- Animated compression level display with customizable curves
- Active transfer function display
- External side chain
- 48 dB/oct HP and LP side ...

Zplane.development has announced the impending release of vielklang v1.1, its audio harmonization virtual instrument for easy generation of vocal or instrumental harmonies with up to four voices. It will be available in September for RTAS (Mac OS X, Windows), VST (Mac OS X, Windows) and Audio Units (Mac OS X) at a MSRP of $249.00/€179.00.

Apart from support for the RTAS interface, version 1.1 will include the following new features :

- Two-voice harmonization mode, generating only a second voice in a typical backing vocal style.
- Availability of 7th chords.
- Timing humanization control.
- Single note splitting and muting.
- Export to audio and MIDI for all plugin interfaces.